. >> reporter: at number five, the september 11th attack in benghazi injected foreign policy into the race. but a week later, the campaign shifted again to a hidden camera that caught romney's comments, an instant obama attack ad. >> there are 47% who are with him. >> reporter: the gop contender needed a breakout moment and got one at number three. >> yes, i love big bird, i actually like you, too. >> reporter: and president obama's lackluster performance in the first face-off put romney back in the hunt. the president would have to redeem himself, and polls show he did. >> i said if i got osama bin laden in our sights, i would take that shot. >> reporter: but at number two came the mother of october surprises. sandy. the devastating superstorm sandy put much of the nation's focus on the handling of the crisis, and the top remarks he received from a new jersey surrogate, governor chris christie. >> i cannot thank the president enough for his personal concern and compassion for our state. >> reporter: polls showed the race moving to the president, who won handily. >> reporter: the size